Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad), founded in the 1200s by Hungarian kings and now in the Košice Region of Slovakia. It successfully repelled a Tartar siege in 1241 and grew to become Central Europe’s largest fortress complex. Spiš was abandoned after a catastrophic fire in 1780, but a thorough restoration programme, launched in 1969, led to both the castle and its environs achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1993.
Spiš Castle, Košice Region, Slovakia: a paved path leads to the gateway of the mighty stronghold of Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad), built in the 13th century by the Hungarian kings on a limestone spur high above the surrounding countryside. It successfully repelled besieging Tartar forces in 1241 and grew to become the largest fortress complex in Central Europe, but was abandoned after a catastrophic fire in 1780. More recently, a thorough restoration programme, launched in 1969, led to both the castle and its environs achieving UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1993. Extensive archaeological research has been carried out on the site and the fortress is now a popular tourist attraction in the eastern region of Slovakia governed from Košice, the country’s second major city.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Spiš Castle or Spišský hrad, Košice Region, Slovakia.
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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